Electrode arrangement for electric discharge systems



Feb. 18, 1941. v w, BENNETT 2,231,877

ELECTRODE ARRANGEMENT FOR ELECTRIC DISCHARGE SYSTEMS Original Filed Feb. 4, 1939 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb; 18, 1941 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRODE ARRANGEMENT FOR ELECTRIC DISCHARGE SYSTEMS Willard H; Bennett, N ewark, Ohio, assignor' to ElectronicResearch Corporation, Newark, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Claims. (01. 175-463 My invention'relates broadly to electric discharge systems and more particularlyto a'novel assembly of electric discharge electrodes.

- This'application is a division of my copending 5 application Serial No. 254,726, filed February 4,

1939-, for Electric discharge system.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an assembly of electrodes operating at substantially atmospheric pressures and having means 101 forself bias in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of emitters and control electrodes in coaction with a target'wherein the control electrodes are-alternately disposed between the-emitters.

A further object of my invention is-to provide an electrode arrangement of emitter and target electrodes with a control electrode constituted as an emitter to produce rectification in thecontrol circuit for bias purposes.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an electrode arrangement including a control electrode constituted as an emitter, andan auxiliary electrode constituted asa target for the emission from thewcontrol electrode, for deriving abias potential for the controlelectrode.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an electrode arrangement of emitter and target electrodes with a control electrode constituted' asan emitter, and an auxiliary electrode constituted as a target for the emissionfrom the control electrode and mounted in conjunction with the main'emitter-electrode, whereby bias potentials for the control electrode are obtained in the operation of the electrode arrangement.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in an arrangement of electric discharge electrodes as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows the electrode assembly of my invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic circuit arrangement of the electrode assembly illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a schematic arrangement of electrode assembly embodying the principles of my invention; Fig. 4 illustrates theselfbiasing electrode arrangement of my invention applied to a full wave rectification system'; Fig. 5 shows a modified'circuit arrangement for afull wave rectification system utilizing,- the electric discharge system of my invention; and Fig. 6 shows .a further modified. form of half wave rectifier embodying the principles-of my 55 invention.

Referring .to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the electrode assembly of my invention includes a bank of primary emitterslocated at I, which are electrically connected together through the member I6. The primary emitters I are stream-lined in contour and are directedtoward the target-rodlikeelectrodes 3, electrically connected through bus 4. Alternately positioned with respect to the emitters -I, I provide a bank of emitters 5. The bank of emitters 5 are stream-lined in contour but have their emitting edges directed away from thetarget members 3 and in the directionof the emitters I toward the member I6. The emitters 5 are electrically connected together through lead S-as shown. The emitters 5 serve as control electrodes-with respect'to primary emitters I aswill be more fully understood by consideration of the schematic circuit diagram illustrated in Fig. 2.

The arrangement of the electrode assembly ina rectifier circuit has been shown in Fig. 2. The 20 section with the sides thereofsubstantially em- 3O:

bracing. or extending around the bank of primary emitters I. The opposite end. of secondary winding 9, shownzatII, connects to one side of the load; The. target constituted by target members 3connectsto the oppositeside of the load. The

control electrode constituted: by emitters 5' connectsthrough a condenser I2 to a tap: I4 on the secondary-winding 9.

I Referringvto-Fig; 3 the tendency of the emitters or'control electrodes; 5'is: to swing .to a voltage 40 like that of the targets 3 with respect to the emitters I, whichcauses: the" emitters or control electrodesii to. fire toward the. emitters I and member I6. Asawconsequence'of this tendency,

when adequate voltage is. being applied from the s secondary ofthe transformer 9 the emitters or control electrodes 5-will swing to. the intermediatebias voltage characteristic of the discharge, namely, ,a positive potential with respect to the emitters I. thev back thereof by the backingmem ber I5, as shown. The emittersnor-control electrodes i are all connected toa common bus, and to an: electrical connection into :a rectifier as shown in Figs.

4; 5 and 6; The emitters-or control'electrodes 55 The emitters I are all connected at 5 constituting the control electrode emit electric discharges toward the emitter electrodes I and the member I6 in the area thereof intermediate the emitter electrodes on .those half cycles of the alternating current when electrodes I are positive with respect to control members 5 until the condenser |2 becomes sufficiently charged. On the other half cycles, the rear edges of the control members 5, that is the rounded edges thereof as distinguished from the emitting edges to which the stream-lined members taper, are more positive than the emitter eelctrodes by the amount of the D. C. charge on the con denser I2. The position of emitters I is so selected with respect to members 3 constituting the target electrode that the emitters I emit negative charges toward the members 3 constituting the target. When the emitter constituted by electrodes I swings positive with respect to target 3, the direct current positive potential of control electrodes 5 suppresses the emission, thus giving rectification. Current flows to the load only on those half cycles when the emitters I are negative with respect to target 3. The suppression action occurs during those half cycles when control electrodes 5 are more positive than the emitter electrodes I. A suitable filter such as represented by condenser 40 may be provided between the rectifier and the load circuit.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the self biasing method heretofore explained applied to a full wave rectifier circuit in which a common target electrode I8 receives discharges from sets of discharge electrodes IS and 20 directed toward opposite sides of target electrode I8. Control electrodes 2| and 22 are disposed between the common target electrode I8 and the associated emitters. That is to say, control electrode 2| is interposed between target electrode I8 and set of emitters l9, while control electrode 22 is interposed between target electrode I8 and set of emitters 20. The input transformer I, including the primary winding 8 and secondary winding 9 is connected as shown, that is, with opposite ends I0 and II. connected respectively with groups of emitters I9 and 28. Mid-tap 4| connects to one side of the load and target electrode I8 connects to the other side of the load. Intermediate taps 23 and 24 are provided on the secondary windng 9. Intermediate tap 23 connects through condenser 25 to control electrode 2|. Intermediate tap 24 connects through condenser 26 with control electrode 22.

On the alternate cycles, self bias is produced by the coaction of the respective control electrodes with their associated emitters while rectification takes place when the emitter swings positive with respect to the collector so that the D. C. positive potential of the control electrode suppresses the emission, thus giving rectification.

I may employthe self bias arrangement in a circuit as illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein two sets of discharge electrodes emit towardtwo opposite targets. In this arrangement two sets of emitters, shown at 21 and 28 emit toward opposite targets 29 and 30. Target 29 is connected 7 to the end ID of secondary winding 9 of transformer I while target 30 is connected to the end II of secondary winding 9. The alternating current to be rectified is supplied to the transformer through winding 8. The connection to the load is taken from mid-tap 4| on secondary winding 9 and from sets of emitters 21 and 28 as shown. The self biasing circuits are completed from control electrodes 32 and 33 through condensers 36 and 31 to the terminals I0 and II as shown. Smoothing condensers 34 and 35 are connected between the control electrodes and their associated target electrodes, the emitters 21 and 28.

A similar arrangement may be provided in a half wave rectifier as illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein self bias is obtained through a condenser path 39 in circuit with sets of discharge electrodes and control electrode 5 arranged as shown in relation to target 3. Alternating current to be rectified is supplied to primary winding 8 of transformer I and impressed through secondary winding 9 from terminal ID to the discharge electrodes and from terminal II to the load. Terminal II is grounded at I2. Smoothing condenser 38 is connected between the control electrode 5 and the electrode I as shown. In this arrangement as in the several circuits heretofore explained, the emitter swings positive with respect to the collector while the D. G. positive potential of the control electrode suppresses the emission, thus giving rectification. The control electrode is spacially related to the emitting electrodes at such a distance that for all normal values of potential with which the system is intended to function there will be no arcing. A safe spacial relation is employed to insure discharge without arcing in the atmospheric pressures at which the apparatus of my invention is designed to function. It is unnecessary to enclose the electrode assembly in an envelope of any kind. However, if the electrode assembly is enclosed in an envelope, the pressures therein may be substantially atmospheric.

The self biasing arrangements for rectifiers as set forth herein have been found to be highly successful in operation and while I have thus described preferred embodiments of my invention, I realize that my invention may be modified in form and embodied in other circuits and I do not intend by the disclosures herein presented to limit my invention to any particular form of circuit, but intend that all modifications and applications of my invention shall be included within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. An electrode arrangement for an electric discharge system comprising a relatively flat member, a plurality of stream-lined emitting electrodes having their rear edges in electrical contact with said member and their emitting edges directed away from said member, target electrodes substantially aligned with the emitting edges of said emitting electrodes, and control electrodes interposed between the streamlined emitting electrodes and having emitter portions disposed in cooperative relation to said member.

2. Anelectrode arrangement for an electric discharge system comprising a relatively flat member, a plurality of stream-lined emitting electrodes having their rear edges in electrical contact with said member and their emitting edges directed away from said member,'target electrodes substantially aligned with the emitting edges of said emitting electrodes, said member having a substantially U-shaped section having substantially parallel extending side portions substantially surrounding the stream-lined plicity of longitudinally extending discharge electrodes, each having substantially parallel extending emitting edges, a multiplicity of target electrodes aligned with the edges of said discharge electrodes, a plate member substantially embracing said discharge electrodes and.

having portions extending substantially parallel with the emitting electrodes and spacially related to the discharge edges thereof, and control electrodes interposed between said discharge electrodes and having emitter portions disposed in cooperative relation to said member.

4. In an electric discharge system, a multiplicity of stream-lined emitting electrodes, a target electrode, said emitting electrodes being directed toward said target electrode, and a plurality of stream-lined control electrodes interposed between the emitting electrodes and directed away from said target.

5. In an electric discharge system, an electrode arrangement for self-biasing operation comprising target electrodes, stream-lined electric discharge electrodes having tapered edge discharge portions directed towards said target electrodes for cooperation therewith, streamlined control electrodes constituted as emitters disposed substantially intermediate said discharge electrodes and having tapered edge emitting portions directed away from said target electrodes, and a backing member for said discharge electrodes including a, plane portion connected with the discharge electrodes at the rounded edge portions thereof and constituting target means for emission from said control electrodes.

WILLARD H. BENNETT. 

